Ceiling construction



March 28, 1933. c. R. BIRDSEY CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 9, 1930 INVENTOR 0mm E5 5'. (Swivels- M g ATTORNEY a 3/ /3 I I 4 i i/llIl/lll .I ,9 V

than their width and each of the sla Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED 'STATES' PATENT OFFICE CHARLES R. IBIRDSEY, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES GYPSUM 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CEILING CONSTRUCTION Application filed August a, 1930. Serial No. 474,132.

This invention relates to a building construction and has reference more particularlfi to ceiling construction of the precast bloc yp In many ceiling constructions of the precast type heretofore proposed, it is necessary to have a number of custom made, individually designed blocks of cementitious material, such as gypsum, concrete or the like and, owing to the fact that many of the bloclrs are made special, the cost of the ceiling is unduly great. In many t pes of ceiling constructions in the art, a lgh erection cost is necessary because of the fact that special attaching members are necessary and elaborate staging is used for supporting the workmen during the construction of the ceiling.

An object 0 this invention,,therefore is to provide a precast ceiling or floor construction composed of identical precast units, all cast from the same mold, which may be sawed to shape on tliejob much the same as wooden lumber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling construction which will have a low material and labor cost and will'be easy to erect; also to improve building constructions in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in whic Fig. 1 is a sectional, perspective view of my improved ceiling construction, a

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the ceiing construction near one vertical wall, an

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through a part of the improved ceiling construction.

The ceiling construction is preferably sup ported from steel floor or ceiling beams 10, having web 11, upper flanges 12, and lower flanges 13. Many other steel shapes such as channels, angles, etc., may be used if desired instead of the I beams 10.

The ceiling proper is preferably composed of elongated flat slabs 14 of gypsum, concrete or other cementitious material. These slabs preferably have a length considerablg greater s is proe 16 is formed along one upper longi 14 form the ceiling, the upper tongues 16- interlock with the lower tongues 17.. Grillagebars 20 are interposed between the slabs 14 and the supporting beams 13 and are each com osed preferably of a U-shaped, elongated, olded steel strip composed of a U-shaped section having a pair of parallel flanges 21 connected by a web 22. Inwardly turned flanges 23 are formed along the lower edges of t e flanges 21, the flanges 23 being spaced apart so as to form a slot 24 for receiving fastening clips 25. Each of the clips 25 is provided with a hole for receiving a nail 26 which is driven into the upper edge of the slab 14 above the tongue 17, the nail preferabl extending below the reinforcing mat 15 an cooperating therewith so as to provide a rigid construction. The cli 25 is provlded w1th a pair of oppositely isposed slots 27 for recelving the flanges 2 3 and is deslgned to be inserted flatwise into the slots 24 and then rotated through 90 so that the flanges 23 engage the slots 27.

A series of slots 28 is formed in the'web 22 for receiving the lower end of an attaching strap 29. The strap 29 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed slots 30 formed in the lower end thereof, said slots bein adapted to engage the edges of the slots 28 a ter the lower and of strap 29 is inserted flatwise into said slots 28 and then rotated through 90. The straps 29 extend upwardly and are bent to form a transverse section 31 and an inwardly turned flange 32 for engaging the upper flange 12 of the I beam 10. It will be understood that the strap 29 may be bent into any shape to conform to the shape of the supporting beams 10. When the last slab 14 is to be put in position next to a vertical wall 33, the

edge of the slab 14 or one of the tongues 16 is preferably supported by an angle strip 34 secured to said wall by fastening means, such as nails 35.

When the ceiling is assembled or constructed, the grillage bars 20 are first put in position below the beams 10 by inserting the lower ends of straps 29 into conveniently located slots 28, the strap being inserted in a flatwise position and then turned through 90 so that slots 30 engage the edges of slots 28. The upper ends of straps 29 are then bent around the upper flanges 12 of beam 10. Either of the tongues 16 or 17 are then supported on angle strips secured to vertical wall 33, and the opposite edge of the slab 14 is then raised into contact with the lower flanges 23. Clip 25 is then inserted flatwise into the slot 24 and turned through 90 so that the slots 27 engage the flanges 23. Nails 26 are then driven into place through the opening in the clip 25, thus supporting the slab 14 on both edges. The next slab 14 is then placed in position with the tongue 16 resting on top of the tongue 17 of the last slab to be put up, and new clips 25 and nails 26 are positioned to support the opposite edge of the new slab 14. In this way the ceiling is constructed with the greatest of ease and a low labor cost from standard units made by quantity production.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig.

slabs are molded in long. uniform lengths and may be sawed to any desired length, much the same as wood lumber. Each slab edge, however, interlocks with the edge of the adjoining slab so that one slab supportsthe adj oining one irrespective of the bars 20. The slabs 14 may be placed on top of the floor beam flanges 12 if desired for forming a floor.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself precisely to these details, since manifestly, the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of beams in spaced parallel relation, cementitious slabs arranged in a plane below said beams, tongues formed on the longitudinal edges of said slabs, the tongue on'one edge of the slab interengaging with a tongue on the adjacent slab, grillage bars provided with slots and interposed between said beams and said slabs, and clips connecting one edge of each slab to a grillage bar.

2. In a ceiling construction, the combination with beams in spaced parallel relation, of grillage bars arranged below said beams, means for securing said grillage bars to said beams, a slot formed in the lower face of a grillage bar, ceiling slabs positioned in a plane below said grillage bars, and clips connecting said slabs to said bars, one end of each clip engaging in a slot and the other ends of said clips being secured to said slab.

3. In a ceiling construction, a grillage bar composed of a channel shaped, elongated strip having inwardly turned flanges forming a slot adjacent the lower surface of said bar, means for supporting said bar in a substantially horizontal position, an elongated :ceiling slab arranged below said grillage bars, clips having slots engaging the slot of said grillage bar, and nails extending through said clips and into an edge .of a slab so as to connect said slab to said grillage bar.

4. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of beams in spaced parallel relation, of grillage bars arranged adjacent said beams, each of said bars being composed of a channel shaped elongated strip having an upper web and a slot formed in said web, an attaching strap having its lower end detachably secured in the slot of said web, the upper end of said strap being attached to a beam, and a plurality of elongated cementitious slabs arranged below and secured to said grillage bars.

5. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of bars in spaced parallel relation, ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said grillage bars, a longitudinal tongue formed at diagonally opposite edges of each slab, the tongues of adjacent slabs being adapted to interengage one with the other so as to support one edge of each slab, and attaching clips secured to the opposite edge of said slab and to said grillage bars. 1

6. In a ceiling construction a plurality of bars in spaced parallel relation, a plurality of ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said ,bars, an attaching clip connecting a slab to a bar, a reinforcing mat embedded in said slab, and a nail driven through said clip and into said slab below said reinforcing mat.

7. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of grillage bars arranged in spaced parallel relation, cementitious elongated slabs arranged in a plane below said grillage bars, a wall extending perpendicularly to said grillage bars adjacent an edge of one of said slabs, supporting beams secured to said wall and supporting one edge of said slab, and conprecast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, an outstanding tongue formed along each diagonal edge of each tile forming upper and lower tongues, the upper tongue on one edge of each slab being supported on the lower tongue of the adjoining tile, and an attaching member connecting the other edge of said tile with said bars so that each tile is supported at one edge by' the lower tongue of the adjoining tile and at the other edge by said attaching member.

9. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced, parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a planebelow said bars, said slabs being in abutting relation, edge to edge, means for attaching one edge of each slab to a support bar, and means for supporting the opposite edge of each tile solely on an adjoining slab independently of other support.

10. In a building construction, a plurality of structural members arranged in a plane in spaced, substantially parallel relation, a plurality of elongated, flat gypsum slabs supported by said members and arranged in a plane, said slabs being provided with interlocking tongues and grooves along the longitudinal edges thereof, said slabs being of considerable length relative to the thickness and width thereof, and so that the slabs have sufficient length to extend for a distance considerably greater than the distance between said supporting members, the free end of each slab being supported by cooperative action of adjoinlng slabs. j

a 11. In a building construction, a plurality of steel bars arranged in a plane in spaced,

substantiall parallel relation, a plurality of elongated, ii at slabs of gypsum supported by said bars and arranged 1n a plane parallel to the plane of said bars, saidslabs being provided with interlocking members along the longitudinal edges thereof, one of said slabs being of considerable length relative to the distance between said bars so as to extend considerably beyond a given pair of support bars, the free end of each slab being sp igorted by cooperative action of adjoining s a 12. A building construction comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel support members, a plurality of relativeli thin, elongated,

precast slabs of gypsum-1i e material provided with interlocking edges and supported by said members, said slabs being longer than the spacing between said members so that at least one end of a slab extends beyond a given pair of support members, and being supported largely by cooperative action with adjoinin slabs.

13. A building construction comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel support members arranged in a plane, a plurality of relatively thin, elongated, precast being supported'jointly by the rigidity of the slabs and the action of the edges thereof cooperativelyinterlocking with the edges of the adjoining slabs. j

14. A building construction comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel support members arranged in a plane, a plurality of relatively thin, elongated, precast slabs of gypsum containing material provided with interlocking tongues and grooves, lon itudinal metal reinforcement associated wit said tongues and serving to connect said tongues with the bodies of theslabs, said slabs being supported by said support members with the ends of said slabs being in staggered relation, the ends of some of said slabs extending considerably beyond a given pair of support members, the free ends of said slabs being supported jointly by the rigidity of the slabs and-the action of the edges thereof cooperatively interlocking with the edges of the adjoinin slabs, and means for connecting said sla s to said support members.

CHARLES R. BIRDSEY. 

